Francis w



F. W. JONES. I PNEUMATIC TRANSFER TUBE SYSTEM,

Patented July 2.3, 1895.

9 )zNVENTOR:

B ins/5 omey (No Model.)

WITNESSES: 36 A! Km? UNITED STATES I PATENT Fries.

FRANCIS W. JONES, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PNEUMATICTRANSFER-TUBE SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 543,184, dated July 23, 1895.

Application filed A ril 15, 1895.

T0 a whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS W. JONES, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic-Transfer-Tube Systems, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of my invention areto employ a single tube or pipe connecting two separate points or stations for transferring a carrier in either direction and to supply pneumatic power at one point only, to develop such power only during the time actually consumed by the passage of the carrier from one station to the other, and to provide for automatically discontinuing the development of power at the termination of a carriers passage.

My invention comprises a single tube unitin g twoseparatedpoints, an air-pump located, preferably, at or near one end of the tube, a suitable motor to operate the air-pump, and means for stopping and starting the air-pu mp and for reversingthe direction of movement of the air-pump to enable me at one time to produce air-pressure to transfer a carrier in one direction and at another time to produce a vacuum or exhaust the air to transfera carrier in the opposite direction, while at other times no power is produced, the pump being stopped. I provide an electrical circuit for connecting two or more stations with a device for starting, stopping, or reversing the opera- .tion of the air-pump, circuit-closing devices in said circuit at each station for controlling the circuit, and circuit-closing devices operated by the passage of a car or carrier in the tube to automatically restore the normal condition of inactivity.

I prefer to employ the rotary air-pump shown and described in United States Patent No. 388,639, dated August 28, 1888, issued to G. Crowell, as I have found this to be especially well adapted for the purposes of this invention.

I provide an electric motor to operate the blower, the field-coils of which may be in two equal sections difterentially wound upon the cores. The field-coils and armature are in of which current may be directed to germ No, 545,688. (No model.)

7 section is connected to a manuallyoperated circuit-closer at the first station. The second terminal of theother field-coil section is connected to a manually-operated switch at the second station. Both said manually-operated switches are normally open. When either switch is operated, its field-coil section is connected with, say, the positive pole of the electrical supply. The outer terminal of the ar mature is permanently connected to the negative terminal of the electrical supply. When the switch at one station is closed, a positive current flows through its field-coil section in one direction. When the switch at the other station is closed, a positive current passes through an oppositely-wound field-coil section, thus reversing the field magnetism. \Vhen both switches are simultaneously closed, the field-magnet coils are cut out of circuit and short-circuited. I provide electromagnetic holding devices for the switch-arms,

one at each station. The electromagnet at one station is in a local circuit including an automatic circuit-closer operated by the passage ofa carrier at the other station. The arrival of a carrier at either station thus operates automatically to stop the air-pump and restore normal conditions.

The accompanying drawing illustrates my invention.

A and B are two stations, separated to a greater or less extent, and connected by a pneumatic tube T.

D is an air-pump or blower capable of producing air-pressure in the tube E by an infiowing current of air, and, when the direction of movement of the pump is reversed, of producing an exhaust or outflowing current of air. The tubeE connects with the tube T at one point only. The ends of the tubes E and T may be united by means of the airtight box 0, having a door (1, by means of which, when the pump is stopped, a carrier the tube T.

The air-pump D-is rotated in either direction by means of a suit-able motor M. I prefor to use an electric motor, the one shown having two field-coil sections, through either a reversal of field-magnetism.

Pand N are the. main leads or terminals produce 7 the distant switch-arm only.

from a source of electricity, such as a dynamomachine.

Rand S are two manually-operated switches located at stations B and A, respectively. Switch R has two fixed contacts 22 and 23 and a spring-retracted arm, which may be placed in contact with either. Switch S has two fixed stops 20 and 21 and a.springretracted arm, which may be placed in contact with either. The conductor 2 extends from the main N to the motor-armature a, circuit then passing via the conductor 3 to the junction of the two field-coil sections 0 and a. Circuit through 0 passes via conductor 4.- to. the down contact 23 of the switch R. Circuit via coil-section 0' passes through conductor 5 to the down contact 21 of the switch S. Conductor 9 extends from the positive main to both stations Aand B. The upper contact 20 of switch S at station A is connected by conductor 8 to the conductor 9. The upper contact 22 of switch R at station B is connected by conductor 7 with the conductor 9.

The switch-arms R and S are each provided with a hook or catch 30, and the hook or catch 31 at each station is a spring-retracted pivoted arm in position to engage with the catches 30 when they are depressed. Each pivoted spring-retracted catch 31 is controlled by an electromagnet, such as m at station A or n at station E. The movable contacts or levers of the two switches are connected together by a conductor 6. Electromagnet m at station A is in alocal circuit 10 11, which terminates in the insulated spring-contact 3', located on to make electrical contact with the bent spring 8, which projects within the tube. T and is defiected by a passing carrier, all as shown and described in my Patent No. 532,966, dated January 22, 1895. The magnet 72. at station E is in a local circuit 12 13, terminating in a spring 3, is arranged in the wall of the tube at station A, as shown and described. The contacts. 8 at stations B and A are connected by the conductors 14, 15, and 16 with the opposite terminal of the local circuit-generator, the conductors l0 and 11 completing circuit with said conductor 16 through said generator. i

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: It will be noticed that one terminal of the motor M is permanently connected with the negative lead; that the armature and fieldcoils are connected in series; that the downcontacts of both switches form negative terminals, and that the up contacts form positive terminals, in contact with which both switch-arms normally rest, so that when either switch-arm is depressed it breaks direct contact with the positive terminal and maintains connection with the positive terminal through It results from this that if both switch-arms are simultaneously depressed at any time the motor is cut off from connection with the positive terminal and its coils are sho'rt-circuited. It, now, stafiected, making contact with spring 3 and completingalocal circuit from themainleadP via 9 10 m 11 s s 14 16 to the terminal N. The

' catch 31 at A is attracted, releasing the arm S,circuit through the motor is interrupted, and the air-pump stops. It results from this that no pneumatic power is. developed unless a carrier is on its passage. If station B desires to send a carrier to station A the switch-lever R at station E is depressed, circuit passing from N via 2 a 3 c 4 23B 6 S 20 8 9 to P. The course of the. current in the field-magnet-coil section is in the opposite direction from that established by depressing the switch S at station A. The direction of rotation of the motor is there 7 fore reversed, the air-pump is rotated in the opposite direction, and an exhaust current of air flowing from B to A is set up. The catches 30 and 31 at B engaging with each other, the arm R is retained in its depressed position until thecarrier arrives at station A, when the springs s and s are brought into contact and the local circuit of magnetn is closed from P .m'ct 9, 12, n 13, s, s, 15, and 16 to N. draws catch 31 from engagement with 30 and the parts resume their normal position.

the wall of the tube at station E, in position 1 n with- It. will now be seen that the air-pump. is

, operated only when a carrier is on its passage,

and that said pump may be started, stopped, or reversed; by the manually-operated switches,

.while the normal condition of inactivity is j automatically restored by the arrival of the carrier at the distant station.

spring-contact s, which, with the contact- 1 By the arrangement described I am enabled My arrangement is more economical to construct and more satisfactory in operation. It

employs fewer parts to get out of order, less weight of metal, and takes less space.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Leti ters Patent, is-

1. In a pneumatic transfer system the combination of a single tube or pipe connecting separated points, an air pump located at one T point or station a motor for operating said 3 pump located in proximity thereto, an electric circuit connecting both points or stations; a switch in said circuit at each station, and means for starting, stopping or reversing the pump, substantially as described.

2. In a pneumatic transfer system the combination of a single tube for transferring a carrier in either direction between two points or stations, an air pump at one point or station, a suitable electrically controlled motor to start, stop or reverse the direction of movement of said pump, an electrical circuit unitl'IO ing both stations, and switches in said circuit,

one at each station, for controlling said circuit, substantially as described.

3. In a pneumatic transfer system the combination of a single tube for transferring a carrier in either direction between two points or stations, an air pump connected with said tube at one station, an electro-magnetic device forstarting and stopping the pump, an

electrical circuit connecting both stations" with said electro-magnetic device and a circuit controller at each station whereby the pump may be started and stopped, substantially as described.

4. In arpneumatic transfer system the com bination of a single tube for transferring a carrier in either direction between two points or stations, an air pump connected with said tube at one station, an electro-magnetic device for starting and stopping the pump, an electrical circuit connecting both stations with said electr -magnetic device and an automatic circuit closer operated by the passage coil-section and a switch at one station and of a carrier controlling said circuit, to stop the pump substantially as described.

5. In a pneumatic transfer system the combination of a single tube for transferring a carrier in either direction, an air pump connectedwith said tubeat one point only, two or more stations on the line of said tube, an electric circuituniting said stations, a motor for operating said pump; an electro-magnetic device for reversing said pump, included in said circuit, and a switch at each station for controlling said circuit, to stop and start the pump substantially as described.

6. Ina pneumatic transfer system the combination of a single tube for transferring a carrier in either direction, an air pump connecting with said tube at one point only; an electric motor having field coils in two sections, two or more stations in the line of said tube, an electric circuit including one-field an electric circuit including the other field coil section and a switch at the other station whereby the operation of a switch at either station starts, stopsor reverses the motor,

substantially as described.

7. In a pneumatic transfer system the combination of a single tube for transferring a necting with said tube at one point only; two or more stations in the line of said tube; an electric motor consisting of a fixed and a 1'0; tating coil for operating said pump, located in proximity thereto, a switch at each station consisting of two fixed contacts and one movable contact, an electrical conductor connecting a switch contact at one station with a corresponding contact at the other station, a source of electric current, an electrical connection between one switch contact at each station and one terminal of said source and an electrical connection between the remainin g contact at each station and the second terminal of said source, all arranged and operating substantially as described.

' 8; In a pneumatic transfer system the combination of a single tube for transferring a carrier in either direction, an air pump connecting with said tubeat one point only; two

or more stations on the line of said tube, an electric motor foroperatin g said pump located in proximity thereto, a switch at each station and electrical conductors uniting said switches-with said motor and with a source of electricity, all arranged and operating substantially as described.

9. In a pneumatic transfer system the combination of a single tube for transferring a carrier in either direction, an air pump connecting with said tube at one point only; two or more stations on the line of said tube, an electric motor for operating said pump. 10-

cated in proximity thereto; switches at each station consisting of fixed contacts and a spring retracted contact, electrical conductors uniting said switches with said motor and with a source of electricity; an arm or catch to hold the spring retracted switch arm of each switch, an electro-magnet controlling said catch arm at one station; an automatic circuit closer operated by a moving carrier at a second station, and an electric circuit including said circuit closer and electro-magnet, substantially as described.

' FRANCIS W. JONES. Witnesses: a

E. B. FOWLER,

- .W. S. PLACE. 

